“ She stepped right through those steps ,” Woodward said . “ She was quite capable as a resident of almost working independently of me .” Littles was chief resident of the Family Medicine Residency Program , graduated in 1989 and opened her rural practice in Gadsden County the same year . There , she began precepting medical students and residents , and she realized the impact she could have educating the next generation of physicians to fill voids in communities like her own .
She joined the faculty of the Family Medicine Residency Program at TMH in 1996 , became its director in 1999 , and held that position until the College of Medicine came calling in 2002 .
Littles jumped at the opportunity to be the founding chair of the Family Medicine and Rural Health department at the nation ’ s first new medical school of the 21st century .
“ The College of Medicine mission statement , it resonated with me ,” Littles said . “ The college ’ s priorities and my goals as a physician mirror each other .”
“ It ’ s amazing ,” Woodward said , reflecting on Littles ’ career arc . “ The transition from private and group practice into management of the family medicine residency program , then transitioning to the medical school – the extent of what she was involved with in the development of all the campuses around the state – it ’ s just incredible in what she has done .”
‘ AN INDEFATIGABLE WORKER ’
Within the halls of the college ’ s John Thrasher Building – and the portable units that housed it prior to its October of 2004 occupancy – Dr . Littles has worked closely with each of her predecessors , from first acting dean and mentor Myra Hurt , Ph . D ., through a 15-year run with John P . Fogarty , M . D ., who passed the torch with his February 2023 retirement .
Those relationships , as well as the ones she has cultured within the Council of Florida Medical School Deans and the Association of American Medical Colleges ( AAMC ) Council of Deans , “ made it clear that this is what I needed to do ” Littles said .
And Littles ’ work among her peers led many to applaud her selection .
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Dean and Chief Academic Officer Henri R . Ford , M . D ., MHA , has worked alongside Littles for more than six years , on both the Council of Florida Medical School Deans and more recently , the AAMC Council of Deans .
“ She is a dynamic leader whose valuable insight is highly sought after by her peers ,” Ford said . “ She is an indefatigable worker whose analytical skills and pragmatism are unparalleled . She is a champion for medical education and medical students . FSU could not have selected a more highly qualified leader .”
As adjectives go , “ indefatigable ” is most-fitting , given Littles ’ involvement in every facet of the College of Medicine ’ s activities , as well as on the university , local , state and national levels .
Even more amazing has been Littles ’ immersion in a wide range of local , state and national medical organizations , further advancing her leadership skills .
Locally , she has chaired the board of directors at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Big Bend Hospice and served as president of the Capital Medical Society . She ’ s been a vice president , council chair and board member for the Florida Medical Association ( FMA ), president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians ( FAFP ), as well as a committee chair and delegate for the American Academy of Family Physicians ( AAFP ), and the academic physicians section chair for the American Medical Association ( AMA ).
Those organizations are merely a sampling of Littles ’ involvement beyond the scope of her College of Medicine responsibilities .
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